The Mets’ summer sell-off picked up another name, and this one comes with a twist: Luke Weaver is on the move to Pittsburgh, but New York isn’t bringing back a package. It’s getting one prospect, and one prospect only.
According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, the Mets are trading Weaver to the Pirates, continuing a deadline stretch that has already seen Brooks Raley, Freddy Peralta, A.J. Minter, and Huascar Brazoban dealt away. Weaver is a meaningful piece to move, too, because he’s under club control through the 2027 season.
The return is shortstop Sammy Stafura, as Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported: "For Luke Weaver, the Mets are getting back IF Sammy Stafura from the Pirates," Sherman reported.
Weaver was signed to a two-year, $22 million deal through the 2027 season, and now he heads to Pittsburgh to give the Pirates’ bullpen a boost. For the Mets, the key piece coming back is Stafura, a 21-year-old infielder who checks in as the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect on MLB Pipeline.
Stafura has put together a strong season in 60 games, hitting .276 with a .960 OPS, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases. He brings speed and production, and there’s clearly some upside in the profile.
Even so, the deal stands out because New York is receiving only one prospect for a reliever with Weaver’s value as a high-leverage arm under team control for another season. Still, Stafura could wind up as one of the better prospects in the Mets’ system once the trade is finalized.
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Mets Deadline Purge Is Already Hitting Familiar Names
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On the roster side, the Mets also made room by promoting Robert Stock and Bryce Conley while designating Kevin Herget and MJ Melendez for assignment. For a team trying to thread the needle between present depth and future value, these are the kinds of decisions that can reshape the bullpen and the organizational picture in a hurry, even if the final ripple from this purge is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]